'Fertilization president' to funnel transit funding to areas with high birth rates

The Federal Transit Association plans to cover up to 10% more of a transit project's costs if the community’s birth rates meet or exceed national thresholds.

1 minute read

October 7, 2026, 5:00 AM PDT

By Zachary Whalen


Trump gestured behind a podium. His hands are held close together.

In 2025, the national fertility rate hit a record low of 53.1 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44. | Joey Sussman

The Trump Administration plans to direct federal transit funding to communities with high birth and marriage rates, according to newly-released plans from the Federal Transit Association. The new criteria comes as part of the FTA’s proposed revamp of a multi-billion dollar program that provides funding to states and local authorities for infrastructure such as bus lanes and rail improvements.

“Under the transit proposal, the FTA would cover up to 10 percentage points more of a project’s costs if an area’s average birth and marriage rates meet, exceed or are just below nationwide thresholds,” Sam Ogozalek writes for Politico. 

In 2025, the national fertility rate hit a record low of 53.1 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44. “Trump has said he will be known as the ‘fertilization president,’” Politico reports.

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 in Politico

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